Frequently Asked Questions

2020 Race is on Sunday 4th October

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When is the Irish 3/4 Marathon being Held in 2020?

Sunday, 4th October 2020 – Starting time is 10.00 am

Race Sign On at Longwood GAA Grounds is from 8.00 -> 9.30 sharp

Car Parks Open at 7.45

Entries now open & will close on 15th September 2020 or earlier if “Sold Out”

No Late or “On The Day” Entries Will Be Possible once event is Sold Out!

What race is being held?

The race is a 3/4 Marathon held on road – Distance is 19.664 miles or 31.646 km

Where is the Irish 3/4 Marathon Based?

Our race is based in Longwood, near Enfield, Co Meath – Location & course map HERE

This is an easy 30 mins drive from M50 & M7 and 50 Mins from Athlone

PLEASE Carpool to Access Priority Parking – Car Parks Open at 07:45

Cars with only 1 person will park furthest from Race HQ/ Start & Finish

Driving Directions to Longwood are HERE

From South & East access is via Enfield (Via M4 or R148) – Go west from Enfield for ~3km on R148 (Direction Kinnegad) & take right turn for Longwood (5km)

Turn left at roundabout entering village and follow signs to parking and race sign on

From West go towards Enfield on R148 from Kinnegad ( Exit M4 or M6 motorways at Kinnegad)

Take left turn at big white house ~3km after Clonard and follow road to Longwood village

Follow signs to parking which is about 400m from race sign on

From North approach Longwood from Navan / Trim on R160

Go straight at roundabout entering village and follow signs to parking and race sign on

Please Car Pool – Priority Parking at Race HQ for cars with 2+ runners only

What is the route for the 2020 Irish 3/4 Marathon?

Provisional Route for the 2020 Irish 3/4 Marathon is shown HERE

Start and finish is within the GAA Grounds / Race HQ Location

Total climb over the 19.6 mile/ 31.6 km route is only ~100m which is ~ 3/4 of the climb in DCM

When do I collect my race number?

Race sign-on will be on race day at race HQ between 8.00am and 9.30am.

Race sign-on will close promptly at 9:30am

Will there be race medals?

Yes – A 2020 Finisher Medal will be provided to all who complete the whole course within the event time limit of 4h 30 mins

What is the 2020 Race Top?

For 2019 we provided this decent quality race tee as shown below

Details of the 2020 top will be provided closer to the event

Will there be a “goody” bag?

Is the race distance certified?

Yes – Race distance has been measured accurately using a Jones Counter and is certified by an AAI trained & accredited course measurer

Exact placement of intermediate km & mile markers is not certified and are for general information only

Will chip timing be used?

Yes – Chip timing will be used to ensure accuracy of race results

Individual Split Timing will be provided at each 1/4 marathon point in Final Results

What is the entry fee*?

2020 Entry Fees* are shown below

Our fees* are designed to encourage & reward early entry

* 10% discount is automatically available to teams of 5 or more

This 10% discount is automatically applied to all entries once the team has 5 or more members joined up

~~Super Early Bird – Up to 15/11/19 – All Entrants – No Team Discount~~

From 16/11/19 to 31/12/18 – €34*

From 1/1/20 -> ~~31/3/20~~ EXTENDED To 30/04/20 – €39**

From 1/5/20 -> 30/06/20 – €44**

From 1/7/20 – 31/8/20 – €49**

** Team entries will have 10% of normal solo entry fee refunded to all team members once there are 5 or more members entered as part of that team

*All Entry fees are subject to Entry Systems Provider’s booking fee (7%)

Entries will close once Race Limit is reached

THERE WILL BE NO LATE or ENTRY ON DAY for the 2020 EVENT

Are there elite entries available?

A limited amount of elite entries will be made available – Please e-mail us with your elite entry request before 1st Sept 2020

Half-marathon standard required for elite entry consideration is sub 70 minutes for men and sub 82 minutes for women or similar.

What happens when I enter on line?

Your credit card or laser card details will be processed and debited for the entry fee amount.

You will receive an e-mail detailing your Receipt Number.

Please bring your picture ID to race registration to collect your race number with timing chip attached, race top & souvenir

What is provided at race sign on?

For our 2020 event you will get a decent quality race top – Details will be provided in due course

One of our key objectives is to minimise race entry fees for athletes and as a result we do not intend to provide a “goody” bag preferring to keep the costs down and the quality of the event itself up

All finishers will get a medal – Details will be provided in due course

Do I get a refund or deferment if I can’t run?

No – Sorry, we are unable to provide a refund unless requested within 14 days of your entry (and only when requested before 1st Sept 2020)

No deferrals to other events are possible under any circumstances, medical, personal or otherwise

Can I transfer my number if I can’t run?

YES – We will permit entry transfers (1 per entry) without any transfer charge until 6pm on Sunday 20th September 2020

The entry transfer process works by the initial entrant offering a transfer of their entry to the new entrant.

Payment for the entry is to be sorted between the old and new entrants but “touting” of entries for a profit is not permitted.

On 21st September we will finalise our entry list & order our personalised race numbers so transfer requests must be processed prior to that date

No deferrals to subsequent events are possible

Please Do Not allow anyone else to run with your number
Allowing someone else to use your number in this manner is unfair to those who missed out on the entry limits.

This also means you are not covered by our 3rd party insurance which is vital for this event to take place on the public roads and to utilise privately owned land for parking, etc

It also adversely effects the results service we can provide with our timing partner particularly in relation to age group prizes and in the past has given us incorrect results where some category winners have missed out on being presented with their prizes on the day, etc so Please “Play Fair & Comply With Conditions Of Entry Thanks“

If you allow someone else to use your number in this manner then you will not be allowed to enter future events

SO PLEASE – NO NUMBER SWAPS UNLESS DONE OFFICIALLY ONLINE BY 20th Sept 2020

Where do I pick up my Race Number?

Race numbers with timing chips attached are available for collection on race morning between 8am and 9.30 at Race HQ.

Nothing will be posted out in advance

Photo ID must be provided at Race Sign On – You Must Sign On for your Own Number – No collection on behalf of others

Will the course be marked?

The route will be clearly marked and marshalled.

There will also be signs at each approximate km & mile intervals FYI

These signs are not officially measured and are for information / general assistance only.
At each 1/4 marathon point Split Timing will be provided to give you chip timed results including 1/4 marathon splits.

Where can I leave my car key or bag?

A small bag drop area will be provided by the race organisers those who have not access to vehicles on the day but be aware that peak time delays are likely to occur in this area – Items left in this area are to be labelled with your race number before handing in – We will provide labels – Although every effort will be made to keep this area secure, the race organisers will not accept responsibility for items left in this area and we recommend that you keep your vehicle key & valuables on your person if possible

Where will water stations be located & what will be provided?

Water stations will be provided at 4 locations along the route as well as the finish

The following refreshment stations are planned for the 2020 event:

As with our 2019 event, in 2020 we will endeavour to go greener by introducing an alternative water provision solution with no single use plastic bottles provided

Station # 1 (approx 4.5 mile/ 7.0km) – 150ml cups of water & own bottle refill
Station # 2 (approx 9 mile/ 14.5km ) -150ml cups of water & own bottle refill, banana segments
Station # 3 (approx 13 mile/ 21.3km) – 150ml cups of water & own bottle refill, banana segments & fruit cake
Station # 4 (approx 16.5 mile/ 26.7km) – 150ml cups of water & own bottle refill, banana segments & sweets
At finish area/ refreshment tent there will be:- Water/ Fresh Fruit segments/ Fruit Cake/ Biscuits/ Crisp sambos / Tea / Coffee

Please help minimise our event’s litter impact by taking compostable cups of water and putting them in one of the bins close to the water station

All rubbish should be placed in one of the bins along the route.

Be Considerate – How would you like your roadway, garden or field littered with someone else’s rubbish?

Please either dispose of your gel / bar wrappers in a bin or keep on your person for disposal at finish – Do not drop on road or verges

Where will the toilets be located?

Toilets will be provided at the race start/finish area.

There will also be toilets provided close to each refreshment station.

Are changing facilities provided?

Yes – Limited basic changing facilities will be provided in GAA club

Where will the First Aid stations be located?

Civil Defence personnel will be providing first aid – Ambulance and support vehicles will be on hand for the duration of the race.

Please complete the Medical Information details on the back of your Race Number prior to the event

When will the results be available?

We will process results as soon as possible after race finish. The focus will be on identification of prize winners immediately after race.

We aim to have a text issued that afternoon with your provisional result and have provisional results online by Sunday evening

When can I find previous 3/4 Marathon results?

Our 2016 -> 2019 Results from Longwood are at below links:

2019 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE

2018 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE

2017 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results HERE

2016 Irish 3/4 Marathon Results Here

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The 3/4 Marathon was held from 2010 to 2015 on an undulating course near Glasson, Athlone, Co Westmeath

2015 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

2014 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

2013 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

2012 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

2011 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

2010 Athlone 3/4 Marathon Results Here

Will pacemakers be used?

We will provide pacemakers for the course to aid inexperienced participants use this as the ideal marathon preparation event.

Pacers will be running at approx 105% of the 3.00, 3.30, 4.00 and 4.30 Hour MARATHON Pace.

We’re pacing 5% slower than your marathon pace to make sure you don’t empty the tank on this event which should be treated as preparation race for DCM.

Pacing (Allowing for 5% over MP) will be based on the following:

– 3:00 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 2:22 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 4′ 28″ /km = approx. 7′ 13″ /mile

– 3:30 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 2:45 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 5′ 13″ /km = approx. 8′ 24″ /mile

– 4:00 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 3:10 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 6′ /km = approx. 9′ 40″ /mile

– 4:30 Marathon Pace Group: Planned 3:33 for 3/4 Marathon = approx. 6′ 44″ /km = approx. 10′ 50″ /mile

Please identify and join an appropriate pacing group at the race briefing at Race HQ at 9.40am

What prizes will be awarded?

2020 Prize details will be as follows:

1st* Male & Female: €300 + commissioned prize from Crannmor Pottery

+ €100 Cash bonus for Course record

€200 Cash Bonus for Course & 3/4 Marathon Race Record

2nd Male & Female: €200 + commissioned prize from Crannmor Pottery
3rd Male & Female: €100 + commissioned prize from Crannmor Pottery

Current Course Records are 1h 42′ 32″ (M) & 2h 06′ 33″ (W)

Our 3/4 Marathon Race Records which were both set on the harder course in Glasson near Athlone are 1h 40′ 13″ (M) & 1h 59′ 42″ (W)

Our Irish 3/4 Marathon Course Records are:

Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) – 2019 – 1h 42′ 32″ (M)

& Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers) – 2016 – 2h 06′ 33″ (W)

2020 category prizes will be commissioned Crannmor Pottery pieces for 1st and 2nd male and female finishers over 40, 50 and 60 & 2021 race entry vouchers

Your age category will be based on your age on race day – 1 prize per person – Awarded after top 3 positions awarded
All Prizes are based on Gun Time / Order of crossing finish line NOT Chip time as per International Rules

Are iPods and MP3 players banned?

We strongly request that you do not use personal music devices for safety of you, other participants and other road users

All Roads are open to vehicular traffic at all times so use of headphones is dangerous so please don’t do it!

This is not something we can actively monitor and we appreciate your co-operation to maximise race safety.

Is there a race cut off time?

Yes – The full course will officially close after 4 1/2 hours in 2020

We will allow maximum of 1hr 30′ for each section (1/4 marathon) of the course to be completed.

i.e. You must have passed the first 1/4 marathon point by 11.30 and the 1/2 marathon point by 13.00

This is sufficient time for someone to jog/walk the course at a 6 hour marathon pace, so we feel this is appropriate in balancing the needs of participants, marshals, road users and residents along the race route.

Walkers are very welcome to participate if they are confident of meeting these cut-off times.

Race signage, refreshment stations, marshals and timing equipment will be removed in accordance with this schedule.

Who is organising the event?

Paul Mahon of Outfront Events is the 2020 race organiser.

2020 will be the 11th running of this 3/4 Marathon event

His track record in this 3/4 marathon and many other events organised under the Outfront and Multisport Adventure Ireland banners since 2010 are testament to the quality of event you can expect in 2020

Who can I contact for further help?

Please check these FAQs and the rest of the website for the answer to any query

If your query is not answered here or for urgent matters please e-mail: info@outfont.ie

FAQ